Africa-Press – Liberia. President George Weah has issued a dire warning to all political appointees that if they are non-performers or under-achievers, he will not hesitate to fire them as he races against the clock to improve basic social services and complete numerous signature projects before next year’s elections.
Addressing his cabinet at the close of a three-day retreat in Ganta, Nimba County, he laid out the work at hand and could not stress enough how crucial it is for his administration to achieve significant success in specific areas to support his reelection effort in the 2023 elections.
That message echoes the reality that his administration must double its efforts to realize its ambitious development plan, the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD), which promises to be a framework for inclusion, more equitable distribution of national wealth, and economic growth by increasing productivity through value chains, with a focus on agriculture.
So, on the final day of the retreat, themed “Pushing Forward for a Better Liberia”, Weah would not mince his words when he said: “Let me be clear. There will be no room for non-performers and under-achievers in this Government. Let me remind you that our first term is not over yet; we still have 16 months and we must finish strong for the Liberian People.
“This is a call to action. The President added: “Let me caution you that ahead lies a greater responsibility to ensure the successful implementation of the plans derived at this year’s retreat. As this year’s theme states, ‘Pushing Forward for A Better Liberia’, it is my ardent hope that it continues to resonate with us as we depart this hall.”
Weah went on to say that now is the time for his officials to step up their game and prioritize the needs and well-being of the Liberian people, while also calling for collaboration and communication to accomplish “strategic goals.”
As a result, he directed the Director-General of the Cabinet to guarantee that every member of this Government remains focused “on our strategic priorities for the next 16 months” in order to achieve his administration’s development goals and complete his first term.
And while reflecting on the theme of the retreat, he reminded his cabinet that they had very insightful conversations about the crucial topics affecting national development, such as the economy, accountability and transparency, the legislative agenda, infrastructure, and, most importantly, performance and coordination in government.
“We have reviewed the progress made over the past years since our inception as a Government and where we want Liberia to be in the final year of our first mandate given to us by the Liberian People.”
However, it remains to be seen if the President will honor his own warning. It is uncommon for the Weah Administration to fire a public official based on performance. He had made similar threats on several occasions, but they were seldom followed by action.
In November 2021, his most trusted aide, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, publicly disclosed that the President was going to sack officials who he claimed had reneged on providing information or reports intended to help the Weah-led government get another shot at the coveted Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant of US$500, which the government had struggled to win for the previous four years.
But, despite McGill, who wields great power in the government, declaring that the Weah will no longer accept individuals who continue to fight against its interests, the ax never fell.
The MCC award, worth around $500 million for about a five-year period, is desperately needed by the Weah administration to support its ambitious road and infrastructure development program under the national development blueprint, the PAPD.
Maybe, this time around, he might be more firm as he must demonstrate to the electorate in the 2023 elections his administration’s success. The result of the PAPD implementation has been uneven as widespread poverty and inequality persist — preventing people from achieving their potential. The poverty rate in Liberia, according to the World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief, is above 50 percent of the country’s estimated population of 4.5 million people.
Meanwhile, the Liberian leader expressed to his cabinet officials how grateful he remains for their valuable contributions toward national growth and development. “we have worked within the framework of our national development plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).”
“During the past few days, we have been bold enough to ask some of the tough questions and accept our challenges and shortcomings in moving our Nation and development agenda forward,” Weah asserted. “These deliberations have strengthened our resolve to make Liberia better than where we get it and will enable us to better focus on the Government’s priorities for the next 16 months.”
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